Another week of Big 12 play is in the books, filled with more upsets and teams picking up their first wins. Who is at the top and who is at the bottom?
10. Texas tech Red Raiders (10-9, 0-7)
Texas Tech is still yet to win a conference game after four weeks of conference play, picking up another two losses this week. They started off the week promising, leading Texas by nine at halftime on the road, before ultimately falling by two points. They then headed to Manhattan, Kansas for a matchup with Kansas State, where once again they had a half-time lead, but again were unable to close the books on their first conference win losing by 10 to Kansas State.
9. Oklahoma Sooners (11-8, 2-5)
After defeating West Virginia last weekend, the Sooners were looking to start a winning streak of their own this week. They started the week with rival Oklahoma State on the road, and were able to take a six point lead into the half. Oklahoma was unable to keep the Cowboys offense in check in the second half though, allowing 48 second half points and losing by 16 to their rivals. Oklahoma was able to return home on Saturday, looking to get back on track against a struggling Baylor team, and once again took a lead into half-time. But just like against Oklahoma State, the Sooners were unable to keep the Baylor offense in check in the second half and suffered their second consecutive loss.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers (11-8, 1-6)
West Virginia was finally able to get the monkey off their back, picking up their first win in conference on Wednesday against TCU at home. The Mountaineers took a 15 point lead into half-time, and despite a late surge from TCU, West Virginia was able to hold them off. West Virginia was able to stay at home on Saturday, hosting Texas and looking to start a winning streak. A back and forth affair the whole way, Texas was able to pull away at the end of the game to stifle the Mountaineers and hand them another loss.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-8, 3-4)
Coming into the week the Cowboys were 1-4 in conference, and looking for a spark to get them into the conversation for the NCAA Tournament. They got their spark, defeating rivals Oklahoma by 16, then using their defense to hold Iowa State to only 59 points to their second win of the week and closer to .500 in conference.
6. TCU Horned Frogs (15-4, 14-3)
The Horned Frogs had an up and down week this week. They started the week traveling to Morgantown looking to continue their hot start against a winless West Virginia team. The Horned Frogs went down big early in the game, but were never able to fully dig themselves out of the hole they created and handed the Mountaineers their first conference win. Coming off of a disappointing loss, and heading to Allen Fieldhouse, TCU easily could have dug themselves a hole but instead were able to dominate the Jayhawks from start to finish en route to a 23 point road victory in Lawrence.
5. Baylor Bears (14-5, 4-3)
After starting conference play slow, the Bears are starting to become the team many expected them to be this season. They started the week on the road against winless Texas Tech, and were able to take care of business to get themselves back to .500 in conference. They were able to get themselves to above .500 in conference this weekend on the road against Oklahoma, overcoming a first half deficit to go unbeaten this week.
4. Kansas Jayhawks (16-3, 5-2)
This was a rare week for the Jayhawks who not only suffered their first conference loss of the season, but lost both of their games this week. They traveled to rival Kansas State for their first game, where they went to overtime and lost on a late game dunk by Keyontae Johnson. The Jayhawks had a chance to re-establish themselves as top of the conference with a weekend matchup against TCU, but were unable to get their footing they entire game and suffered a blowout loss at home.
3. Texas Longhorns (16-3, 5-2)
Texas started their week with a double digit road loss to Iowa State, where they played the Cyclones close for the first 35 minutes, before letting them run away with it in the final five. They traveled to Morgantown this weekend, looking to get back on track and had a similar game where they played West Virginia close for the first 35 minutes of the game, but this time Texas was the one able to run away with the game late and staying tied for second in the conference.
2. Iowa State Cyclones (14-4, 5-2)
The Cyclones were able to keep their hot conference start going to start the week, knocking off Texas at home in a tight affair until they were able to pull away late. Iowa State was unable to keep their momentum going into the weekend though, blowing a 10 point half-time lead against Oklahoma State, where their offense only scored 24 second half points earning their second conference loss.
1. Kansas State Wildcats (17-2, 6-1)
The team picked to finish last in the Big 12 just keeps rolling, first picking up an overtime win over rival Kansas to cement themselves as true contenders to win the conference. Then the Wildcats were able to keep Texas Tech winless in conference to have another unbeaten week in the conference, and take sole possession atop of the Big 12.
